NOVEL NEXT Chapter 557: Girls' parties (1)
While Nate and Scarlet were discovering boys' parties, Jaden followed his mommy to the art gallery. There was no party there, but Lara just wanted to visit the gallery while Nate was at the club.
She had brought Jaden with her and, just like usual, the little boy didn't complain. He sat next to his mommy and nibbled on a cookie. Mary Dixon had specially ordered pastries for him. Knowing he could come with Lara meant she had to ensure there was something a kid could like.
She couldn't contain her amazement every time she noticed how calm he was. She was getting used to it, slowly, but it still was a shock. He would listen, or pretend to listen, to what they talked about with his brown eyes wide open.
He would even look at the paintings, sometimes. He was especially fond of Pike's works.
«How do you like the painting you bought last time?» Mary inquired after the initial questions about health and family. «Where did you put it?»
«It's in the living room. The kids love it. Nate, too.»
«I'm glad.»
«I was wondering, though, where does Pike come from.»
«No one knows,» Mary said. «He's a mysterious artist... He used to produce one painting every few months a few years ago. Then, no one heard from him until a few weeks ago, when two of his paintings appeared.»
«When?»
«Mhm... A month ago? A month and a half? I received it by mail. I made one of my experts analyse the two paintings I got, and he confirmed it was from Pike.»
«Was there any message along with the paintings?»
«Just the coordinates where to send the money. Some other instructions about the paintings.»
«Was there any signature?»
«No. I mean, there was but it was printed. No hand-writing at all.»
«Not even on the envelope? Was there nothing at all?»
«Oh, that... It might not be Pike's handwriting,» Mary said. «Also, if he finds out I'm investigating his identity, he might stop sending me paintings.»
«Stop? Is he still sending?»
«Yes, he is,» Mary said. «I received another yesterday. And he promised one more for next week.»
«He painted nothing for years, and now he produces a painting every week? Isn't it suspicious?»
Mary shrugged. How was she supposed to suspect when she was earning money and recognition with those artworks? Pike would carefully choose where to sell his art. She had been chosen, which was a matter of status more than of business. Pike knew who would visit her gallery, and he wanted his paintings in the houses of the most influential people.
«I think he's not painting them now,» Lara said. «What has your expert said about the paintings? How old are they?»
«I... I don't know,» Mary replied. «I didn't ask him.»
«How can you not be curious?» Lara chuckled. «I just bought a painting, but I'm already dying to know. How can you stand all the mystery?»
«It's part of the art,» Mary explained. «Mystery, not understanding fully what they wanted to portray... I'm used to it. I am not an art expert, Lara. I just sell paintings. I don't even have much sensibility when it comes to art.
I can say whether I like a painting or not, that's all.»
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«Oh, that's... Sorry,» Lara murmured. She didn't expect such a confession. She was sure Mary wouldn't say it in front of anyone else, and she felt honoured to be considered a trusted person. But she also felt guilty for forcing Mary to tell her.
If she hadn't insisted on knowing more, it would have never happened. But Lara wanted to collect some information about Pike before talking with Nate about the matter. She hoped it was just a misunderstanding, that there was no rogue werewolf in Norwich.
Or that Pike actually lived somewhere else. But her instinct told her he was close.
«Did they deliver the paintings with the mail service?»
«Yes,» Mary sighed. «Do you want to see the postmark?»
«If you don't want to tell me, it's okay. I'll stop asking,» Lara said. «It's not such a big matter. I was curious, that's all.»
«You're being so insistent for someone who's just curious,» Mary said.
«I know, right?»
Mary moved her eyes to Jaden who was standing in front of another painting of Pike. Did that boy have an eye for art, or was it all a coincidence? He had taken his tastes from his mother, since both sounded so unwilling to consider any other painter but that Pike. He wasn't even such a great talent, according to the art experts. He was good, among the best of their generation.
But not as much as to explain awe.
Not someone history would remember, according to them. So, either the experts' eye was less acute than that of a five-year-old child, or the mother and son pair had seen someone everyone else missed.
«I'll let you see it,» Mary said, surrendering. Seeing Jaden so taken moved her heart. The little boy was in trance, his lips split in amazement.
As if he was watching cartoons and not a boring painting of night scenery. He wasn't even watching the cars racing on the road; not the trees which every leaf was portrayed perfectly. He was staring at the sky, where the moon was full.
It wasn't as big as the one they had in their living room. It was small, a dot in the starry sky. As large as a thumb... Just like it would be in the pictures an amateur photographer would take.
But Jaden was staring at that detail.
Mary felt guilty for resisting Lara's interrogation. In the end, Pike would never know she had let Lara see the envelope of the letters. Lara couldn't find him in Norwich that easily, it was a big city. She would realise, sooner or later, that it was pointless. And she would give up.
«It's from Norwich,» Mary sighed. «The postmark is from Norwich.»